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“Enlarge the common ground” beyond borders: Ritsumeikan students had dialogue with the Israel and Palestine Young Professional Leaders
On January 28th, ten of five Israeli and
five Palestinian young professional leaders includinge journalists, government
officials, scholars and business entrepreneurs visited Ritsumeikan, as part of
invitation program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of, Japan.
Both undergraduate and graduate students from Ritsumeikan University and high school students at Ritsumeikan-Uji High School, which is famous for international education participated in the meeting.
The conflicts in the area have continued for a long time. Japanese government invites the delegation to support the Middle East Peace process by promoting personal exchange and friendship between Israel and Palestine on its belief’s briefs that “the problem should be resolved only through negotiations, based on relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, and that any violent acts must be firmly rejected.”*
Understand each truth and reality
Under the lead of Professor Mitoji Yabunaka, a former vice foreign minister of Japan who is engaged in various international cooperation projects and negotiations, the participants talked the reality of the Israel-Palestine region like Israel’s settlements, Palestine refugees and security checkpoints as well as high-tech innovation in the area. Nevertheless the difficult situation, all attendants were trying to understand their counterpart’s reality, which they described “enlarge the common ground” among them.
What Japan can do for the region?
In the end of the conversation, a Ritsumeikan-Uji High School students asked their expectation to Japan. Participants explained how Japan is an important country for the region’s future and asked them to visit their beautiful sites like Jericho, Ramallah and Jerusalem to understand the region. The participants explained how Japan is important to the future of the Israeli and Palestine region. It was also hoped that there will be opportunities for young Japanese to visit the region and learn more about its rich culture and history.
As a well experienced former vice ministerdiplomat, Professor Yabunaka facilitated the discussion constructively and concluded it with gratitude for participants’ sincere contributions to it.
Both undergraduate and graduate students from Ritsumeikan University and high school students at Ritsumeikan-Uji High School, which is famous for international education participated in the meeting.
The conflicts in the area have continued for a long time. Japanese government invites the delegation to support the Middle East Peace process by promoting personal exchange and friendship between Israel and Palestine on its belief’s briefs that “the problem should be resolved only through negotiations, based on relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, and that any violent acts must be firmly rejected.”*
Understand each truth and reality
Under the lead of Professor Mitoji Yabunaka, a former vice foreign minister of Japan who is engaged in various international cooperation projects and negotiations, the participants talked the reality of the Israel-Palestine region like Israel’s settlements, Palestine refugees and security checkpoints as well as high-tech innovation in the area. Nevertheless the difficult situation, all attendants were trying to understand their counterpart’s reality, which they described “enlarge the common ground” among them.
What Japan can do for the region?
In the end of the conversation, a Ritsumeikan-Uji High School students asked their expectation to Japan. Participants explained how Japan is an important country for the region’s future and asked them to visit their beautiful sites like Jericho, Ramallah and Jerusalem to understand the region. The participants explained how Japan is important to the future of the Israeli and Palestine region. It was also hoped that there will be opportunities for young Japanese to visit the region and learn more about its rich culture and history.
As a well experienced former vice ministerdiplomat, Professor Yabunaka facilitated the discussion constructively and concluded it with gratitude for participants’ sincere contributions to it.
Ritsumeikan hosted the visit and conversation for 4 times. Past events’ reports are available as follows:
2019 February visit
2017 November visit
Reference
MOFA Japan’s Position on the Peace in the Middle East